When you have diabetes, it means your body is no longer able to manufacture a sufficient amount of insulin for the regulation of your glucose level. Diabetes is not difficult to understand but it is difficult to treat. Take the advice in this piece to heart in order to help make things easier to comprehend.
Develop a “testing ritual” that you follow every time you test your blood sugar. Place your insulin meter in the same location all of the time to ensure you can find it easier. Keep to the same routine every time you test so you never miss a step, and you don’t have to think twice about recording your levels.
Learn to indulge healthily if you are living with diabetes. You probably don’t have to avoid sweets altogether. When you can effectively manage your blood glucose levels, you shouldn’t worry to much about sneaking in the occasional sweet treat. It may be wise to anticipate an after-meal treat by eliminating a certain amount of carbs from your main course.
Sleep Apnea
If you suffer from diabetes, it is wise to undergo a test for sleep apnea as soon as you can. Getting tested early for sleep apnea is advisable, as it may continue as a dangerous untreated health risk.
If you have bouts of hypoglycemia, always carry sugary foods such as gum with you to consume when needed. Hypoglycemia can strike at any time, and you must be prepared for an attack. This is very true if you did not eat breakfast, since your body is demanding sugar.
Know which foods have high GI values and can spike your blood sugar when ingested. Foods with a high carbohydrate or sugar content include breads, cereal and most fruit juices. Eating processed food will do your blood sugar no favors. Concentrate on raw vegetables, fresh fruit, meat, and fish instead.
You can lose weight and fight against your diabetes by going for a run. Try using the local school’s jungle gym after hours to do chin ups. Or, you can use common items at home as weights to lift.
If you’re a diabetic and you’re experiencing problems related to your vision, see to it that you consult your doctor. Many eye problems can be caused by diabetes, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. You must attend to these problems right away to avoid possible vision loss and/or blindness.
Sometimes a quick snack, like a chocolate bar from a snack machine, or other goodies around the house, may be hard to avoid, diabetic or not. It’s crucial that you avoid these unhealthy snacks, and instead fill up on fruit and vegetables.
Blood Sugar
Do not be surprised if your blood sugar levels spike after treating a low glucose situation. There are two things that can cause this, your body floods itself with hormones in response to low blood sugar and you might be overcompensating in your caloric consumption. The next time this happens, try cutting your normal meal in half and double check your glucose levels a half an hour later.
Take your insulin exactly as prescribed by you physician. Fast-acting insulins work very well to maintain blood sugars, but they must be properly dosed for the individual.
If diabetes is a condition you have, cinnamon is a wonderful spice that you can use in your diet with inviting calories, sodium or sugar in. Cinnamon naturally brings out the sweetness in food, and it doesn’t add any sugar in the process. Some studies indicate cinnamon actually lowers glucose levels while others do not, but it is a good spice to use anyway.
A common misconception regarding diabetes is that the diabetic is not allowed any sugar. You are not required to ban sugar, but you must be intelligent about sweets. An occasional sweet dessert eaten in a small amount is allowable. Whenever you indulge in a sugar and carb-heavy treat, just be sure to balance your diet by cutting those quantities from other meals.
Exercise on a regular basis. If you get workouts often, your body will be able to process glucose and insulin better, which will help to keep blood sugar levels more stable. Exercising is important if you have diabetes.
You shouldn’t only rely on urine ketone testing as a means to measure blood sugar levels. Elevated ketone levels only indicate that your blood sugar is higher than 200. The ADA suggest that diabetics use testing strips and finger sticks for more accurate testing.
Egg Whites
If you want to be sure to eat the best breakfast you can for your diabetes, eat egg whites! Egg whites are great because they’re low-cal and low-fat, and are also great sources of calcium and protein to begin the day with. Make an omelet with egg whites, or scramble the egg whites with ham for instance.
Do not allow living with diabetes to become a complicated thing. Focus on the tips you’ve read in this article, in order to make living with diabetes a simple day-to-day routine that you can easily incorporate into your life. If you can follow these tips, you’re on your way to wellness.